Safety & Compliance

Speed Limit Bill Passes Texas House

A bill that would implement the same speed limits for cars and trucks has passed the Texas House of Representatives, according to a spokesman in the office of the bill's sponsor, Rep. Carl Isett.

HB 676 would raise the truck speed limit to the same as for cars — 70 mph during the day and 65 at night on interstate and state highways. The bill, passed Thursday, now goes to the Senate.However, another bill in the House would raise car speed limits even higher.HB 3328, which received tentative approval last week, would raise the daytime miximum speed limit for cars, motorcycles and light trucks to 75 mph on nonurban highways. An amendment added on the House floor would raise that limit to 80 mph on interstate highways traveling east to west in counties with populations under 25,000. All changes would be subject to approval by the Texas Department of Transportation.According to the Associated Press, Isett tried to pass an amendment that would apply the speed limits to heavy trucks, as well, but withdrew it after it incited heated debate.For more information, visit the Texas Legislature web site at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn., which has been lobbying for uniform speed limits, is also following the issue closely at http://www.ooida.com.